Video to assist with emergency evacuations

Western's Environmental Health and Safety Office has released a new training video for building evacuations on campus. The video, available at YouTube or on the EHS emergency planning website, explains the role and duties of volunteer floor wardens and building coordinators.

These designated persons are assigned to every academic and administrative building on campus to help ensure safe evacuation during an emergency or drill. Floor wardens perform a sweep of their floor, making sure doors are closed, hazardous equipment turned off, and checking if anyone is left behind or remaining in an area of refuge. Building coordinators gather information from floor wardens once outside, and act as a centralized point of contact for responders on scene.

The designation of these voluntary positions is done annually in conjunction with updating of department and building emergency plans. All employees are encouraged to review general evacuation procedures and building/department assembly points for their buildings, as well as review which persons are assigned as floor wardens and building coordinators in your workspace.

For a quick understanding of what to do in emergencies, watch Western’s emergency preparedness video at emergency.wwu.edu.

For more information, please contact Western's Environmental Health and Safety Office at ehs@wwu.edu or 360-650-3064.